Christmas Singing in Zambia 2008

Just wanted to share a video that The Cooks in Zambia took just the other day. Thanks, Nikki!

A Few Christmas Morning Pictures

We had the dollhouse and all the rooms set up for the girls to see when they walked into the room. You can see what Levi made a bee line for...

Notice his barnyard and tractor off to the right...
Opening presents...

Got any more chocolate in there?

Playing with some dollhouse acessessories...

All dressed up...

Creative Play, Zambian Style

Just wanted to share a few pictures of some Zambian MKs. These are three of the Bowman children - Luke, Abby and Anna- who live in the North Eastern Province of Zambia. I loved these pictures. Yes, these children do have all the "normal" toys but chose to spend the day outside, making their own armor out of leaves. What fun they must have had!

All Dressed Up...

Litumezi, Salamat, Zikomo, Tack, Spacibo, Ashoge, Kamsahamnida, Chjoonta, Obrigada, Danke, Gracias....Thank you!

Just wanted to share a post from The Rodgers in Zambia. They wanted to say "Thank You" for all that you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering has always had significant meaning to us as we have benefited several times from your gifts to Lottie Moon but as we look at the possibility of going back overseas with the International Mission Board to Zambia - it has taken on another dimension. Please check out this post . It really does say it all. From just a few of the different languages of the world, THANK YOU!

Mary, Did You Know?

Christmas At Our Home

The girls and I put together this gingerbread house today. Ya know, those aren't as easy as they say they are and ours was all pre-made! Anyway, it was fun and we kept Levi busy with the candy as he was stuck in the high chair the whole time....
The girls ate the gingerbread man and the gingerbread snowman.

Levi finally got to eat the gingerbread Christmas tree.

This is our olive wood nativity set that was made in Israel. I desperately need the Little People Nativity Set so that the kids can play with one, though. Each time they go to grab one of these, I about have a heart attack!

The kids had fun decorating the tree last night. I know! I know! We barely got it up before Christmas!

A Glimpse into Candidate Conference

We are here in Richmond, Virginia at the International Mission Board (IMB) for our Candidate Conference (CC). We have had our (very detailed) physicals, publicity photos, meeting with our Richmond Associate for the Central Eastern Southern Africa (CESA) region, another in depth staff interview by a different OMP person, some (lots) really great food, another meeting on the huge Manual for Field Personnel (MFP), some break out sessions, medical information seminary, wellness/member care seminar and in a few minutes, we will begin a seminar/conference on FPO (Field Personnel Orientation that will take place at the International Learning Center-ILC- for 7 weeks), then another session on MK/TCK (third culture kid) education then supper! Whew-that's alot of stuff for one day! Tomorrow is a little more of the same then we leave Saturday afternoon to go back to Texas. Also, can you tell that the IMB loves their acronyms: CESA, IMB, FPO, CC, MK, ILC, MFP, TCK, OMP - and really, the list goes on.....

Please pray...

I am not one who often asks other to pray for me. I loved to lift others up to our Father but rarely ask others to do so for me. But today, I am asking. As you know, we are in the process of applying to become career missionaries (again) with the International Mission Board. Sunday, December 7th at about 6:15pm Central Standard Time - Jeff will be sharing with the church about this process. We have already begun to tell a few people in our church - FBC's ministry staff, the chairman of the deacons and few other very close friends. Now it is time for Jeff to stand before our beloved church family and share with them about the process of becoming IMB missionaries. Please pray that Jeff will approach Sunday night with the boldness and confidence of one who is filled with the knowledge that he is being obedient to Christ above all else. Pray that the telling will go smoothly and the receiving will be joyful.
Please pray for FBC's church family that after they work through the initial shock that they will rejoice with us and be supportive of us as we continue through this process. We will need their prayer support in the days to come. We are also going to have to tell our children on Sunday. We have not figured out how to do this as children, at least mine, tend to tell everything they know. I could list a hundred ways that you could pray for us on Sunday night but I won't. I'm just asking you to PRAY.



We leave for Richmond, Virginia for our Candidate Conference on December 8th and will return on December 13th. This week will be full of more interviews, medical evaluations, conferences and lots of information. Evidently, there will be about 65 or so missionary candidates at this conference. I am looking forward to going but that also means that we have to leave our children for a week with Jeff's mother, MeeMee. It is never easy to leave my children and I have never left them for this amount of time. Please pray for MeeMee and the kids that they will be able to find their own routine and that the week will go smoothly.

Thanksgiving Day Family Picture Escapades

Levi is trying to escape...

Levi is fascinated with his nose...

Jeff acting crazy...

Almost there...

Got it! Or as good as it was going to get...

Mrs. Invisible

I know from our previous time overseas as missionaries to the Tajumulco Mam in Guatemala that people tend to think quite highly of missionaries. We would always tell people that they are missionaries, too. It is just where you have been called to that changes - whether you are to be on a mission in Smalltown, USA or in Megacity, Asia. It is all about obedience. I have found a blog with the help of one of my best friends (Hi, Robin) and it has already spoken to me. I really love what she says in this post as it reminds me of what my primary job is now and will continue to be in Zambia. I hope that this video and Joy's post will speak to all you Moms out there - no matter where you are or what you are doing. Blessings to you all!

Happy Thanksgiving and Beyond

Let us endeavor to live out this Scripture - no matter where you live and what you do, let the name of Jesus be known. Who is a missionary? You are a missionary. The Lord has given each and every one of us a mission - whether you have been told to go next door or go to Africa, we all must obey and testify to who Christ is so that all may know. Go and be a part of what the Lord has for you to do - and while you are at it, give thanks!

Lottie Moon and IMB

If you are Southern Baptist, I hope that you are familiar with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. As Jeff and I look to go back overseas as Southern Baptist missionaries, we are once again reminded just how crucial this offering is. Everything you give, goes 100% to your missionaries who are serving overseas. Southern Baptists are the only mission sending agency that fully supports it's mission personnel. It truly is a privilege to give sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

On another note, Jeff and I got our information packet for the December Candidate Conference that will take place December 8-13 in Richmond, Virginia. This time will be full of more interviews, medical appointments, meetings, and lots of information. Please continue to pray for us in this next step that will ultimately lead our family to Lukulu, Zambia.

Merry Tossmas!!

I am sure not all about commercializing Christmas. We all know how we individually endeavor to teach the true meaning of Christmas to our children. Needless to say, we are going to buy something this year for Christmas, so it might be nice to buy from those who are not ashamed to say "Merry Christmas".

A Thanksgiving Treat

A wonderful lady brought this by our house yesterday. I think that it will be a great new Thanksgiving tradition for us. Although, next year we will have to ask for a bag of suckers to be sent to us a couple of months in advance...

Lukulu, Zambia

Just wanted to show you where we will be in relation to the whole country of Zambia.

Look for the yellow arrow in the western province.

If you want a closer view of the western province, look to the right on the sidebar.

Happy 4th Birthday, Zoe!

Just a few pictures to celebrate our Zoe today on her birthday (also Veteren's Day)...

Joshua 1:9

I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

One might think that Joshua 1:9 might be an old stand-by; an standard verse that people spout out only in difficult times but I have found over the years that part of the incredible amazing beauty of Scripture is that it speaks to us in so many different ways and on so many spiritual levels. I feel like the Lord placed my attention on this verse at the beginning of our search for where He would want us to serve overseas. How and why did He pick Zambia out for us considering all of the other countries that were available?

Joshua was embarking on a brand new adventure as he was poised to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land. Three times in the first 9 verses of Joshua 1 God specifically told Joshua to be strong and courageous. It must have been very significant to Joshua just as it is significant to me today as my family also looks out into the unknown, ready to embark upon a new adventure.

Right now, I am not afraid but this verse tells me that when those doubts buffet me and I might be fearful of the unknown that - Praise Him! - He has promised to be with me WHEREVER I go. As He chose Zambia for us, He will carry us boldly and confidently into the future.

Pictures of Lukulu and the Western Province of Zambia

Just wanted to share some pictures from Zambia. This is the sign somewhere that leads to Lukulu.

Above is a picture of the market in Lukulu.
The mighty Zambezi River flows through the western province of Zambia. Lukulu sits on it's eastern bank. Isn't it beautiful? The picture in my header is also a picture of a rainbow over the Zambezi River.

National Candy Corn Day

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures from school today. Hadassah and Zoe celebrated National Candy Corn Day today as they ate candy corn and made a candy corn man.

And this is what Levi did while we did school...

My Very First Time

This is my very first blog entry! I decided to begin a blog to chronicle our lives and ministry in Africa. Alot of these posts will be for the family to show our daily lives in Zambia but we will of course try to intersperse our ministry into the mix because that is what our lives will be - living out our obedience to our Lord and Savior as we tell the Lozi People of Zambia about His love for them.

Today, we officially reserved our job request and became a part of the Upper Zambezi Team of western Zambia. Nobody will see these posts right now - so I guess I'm just blogging to myself - because I have yet to set the blog for public viewing but I just wanted to get started so I can get the hang of it. It's kind of strange - talking about your life, knowing that anybody might be able to see it but it is my hope that Jesus will increase and I will decrease as we go along on this journey that I have entitled our Ambitious African Adventures. We still have a long way to go as we continue through the process of being reappointed as career missionaries with the International Mission Board but we'll see where it takes us! -or just me, right now. :-)